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The Bucket List
From the author of the critically acclaimed “lively and engrossing parable for women of all generations” (Harper’s Bazaar) The Regulars comes a deeply funny and thoughtful tale of a young woman who, after discovering she has the breast cancer gene, embarks on an unforgettable bucket list adventure.
Twenty-five-old Lacey Whitman is blindsided when she’s diagnosed with the BCRA1 gene mutation: the “breast cancer” gene. Her high hereditary risk forces a decision: increased surveillance or the more radical step of a preventative double mastectomy. Lacey doesn't want to lose her breasts. For one, she’s juggling two career paths; her work with the prestigious New York trend forecaster Hoffman House, and her role on the founding team of a sustainable fashion app with friend/mentor, Vivian Chang. Secondly, small-town Lacey’s not so in touch with her sexuality: she doesn’t want to sacrifice her breasts before she’s had the chance to give them their hey-day. To help her make her choice, she (and her friends) creates a “boob bucket list”: everything she wants do with and for her boobs before a possible surgery.
This kicks off a year of sensual exploration and sexual entertainment for the quick-witted Lacey Whitman. Ultimately, this is a story about Lacey’s relationship to her body and her future. Both are things she thought she could control through hard work and sacrifice. Both are things she will change by choosing to have a major surgery that could save her life, and will give her the future she really wants.
Featuring the pitch-perfect “compulsively delicious” (Redbook) prose of The Regulars, The Bucket List is perfect for fans of Amy Poeppel and Sophie Kinsella.
Twenty-five-old Lacey Whitman is blindsided when she’s diagnosed with the BCRA1 gene mutation: the “breast cancer” gene. Her high hereditary risk forces a decision: increased surveillance or the more radical step of a preventative double mastectomy. Lacey doesn't want to lose her breasts. For one, she’s juggling two career paths; her work with the prestigious New York trend forecaster Hoffman House, and her role on the founding team of a sustainable fashion app with friend/mentor, Vivian Chang. Secondly, small-town Lacey’s not so in touch with her sexuality: she doesn’t want to sacrifice her breasts before she’s had the chance to give them their hey-day. To help her make her choice, she (and her friends) creates a “boob bucket list”: everything she wants do with and for her boobs before a possible surgery.
This kicks off a year of sensual exploration and sexual entertainment for the quick-witted Lacey Whitman. Ultimately, this is a story about Lacey’s relationship to her body and her future. Both are things she thought she could control through hard work and sacrifice. Both are things she will change by choosing to have a major surgery that could save her life, and will give her the future she really wants.
Featuring the pitch-perfect “compulsively delicious” (Redbook) prose of The Regulars, The Bucket List is perfect for fans of Amy Poeppel and Sophie Kinsella.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2018
269 people are currently reading
8917 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Clark
10 books979 followersHello! I'm a Brooklyn-based novelist and host/founder of the popular storytelling series, Generation Women. I love improv, being cozy, and fun snacks that are salty.
My next book is a queer Christmas rom-com called MOST WONDERFUL (2024). I also wrote ISLAND TIME, IT HAD TO BE YOU, THE BUCKET LIST, THE REGULARS, and two YA novels.
I teach romance writing, mentor up-and-coming writers, host weekend writers’ retreats, and create the monthly author newsletter, Heartbeat. You can connect with me on Insta, @georgialouclark. Sign up for a class at georgiaclark.com!
My next book is a queer Christmas rom-com called MOST WONDERFUL (2024). I also wrote ISLAND TIME, IT HAD TO BE YOU, THE BUCKET LIST, THE REGULARS, and two YA novels.
I teach romance writing, mentor up-and-coming writers, host weekend writers’ retreats, and create the monthly author newsletter, Heartbeat. You can connect with me on Insta, @georgialouclark. Sign up for a class at georgiaclark.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 441 reviews
April 1, 2018
Spoiler alert: I wrote this. Can't review my own book because weird, but can say I love this story dearly and hope you will to. Thanks for swinging by, and for keeping the love of literature alive!
ps. This book has sex scenes. If you don't like 'em, this ain't for you!
ps. This book has sex scenes. If you don't like 'em, this ain't for you!
August 6, 2018
4 brave stars to The Bucket List! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Lacey Whitman is only twenty-five when she discovers she inherited the BRCA1 gene mutation, a gene strongly predictive of breast cancer. Like anyone who discovers she has the gene, there are two choices: increased medical monitoring beginning asap, or having a preventive double mastectomy. Lacey is adamant she does not want to choose the latter, but the former is not much more appealing. She has led a sheltered life prior to moving to New York and feels she will lose her sexuality along with the mastectomy. Her friends come together to help her create a bucket list of things to experience prior to having a possible surgery. There are many laugh-out loud moments balanced along with the serious tone of the burdensome decisions Lacey faces.
Thus, Lacey begins a year of marking things off her very much sensual, sometimes racy bucket list. I will leave the rest to your imagination, or better yet, if you read the book, you can follow along on her adventure.
There is a twist to this. Lacey is learning to accept herself, including her body, and as she stares down the path of her future, she has to choose if she will be empowered, or if she will be a victim- both before and after the surgery.
The Bucket List is a smart, often times witty, escapade. At the heart of this book is female empowerment, especially when it comes to our bodies. We need more books like this. Sometimes we read about main characters who are insecure. While that is where Lacey starts, and it lets those of us who feel insecure also feel validated, we, too, need models of women working past that.
I appreciate that Georgia Clark wrote this story, her research into the possible mental and physical health changes associated with inheriting the BRCA1 gene, including interviewing women affected, and I applaud her choices in the coming of age of Lacey. The Bucket List has emotion and tenderness with some humor for levity in what can be an earth-shattering, fear-inducing place. While this is not every woman’s story who finds herself carrying the BRCA1 gene, and I don’t think it is meant to be, it is one woman’s journey towards self-acceptance, and a heartwarming one at that.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Lacey Whitman is only twenty-five when she discovers she inherited the BRCA1 gene mutation, a gene strongly predictive of breast cancer. Like anyone who discovers she has the gene, there are two choices: increased medical monitoring beginning asap, or having a preventive double mastectomy. Lacey is adamant she does not want to choose the latter, but the former is not much more appealing. She has led a sheltered life prior to moving to New York and feels she will lose her sexuality along with the mastectomy. Her friends come together to help her create a bucket list of things to experience prior to having a possible surgery. There are many laugh-out loud moments balanced along with the serious tone of the burdensome decisions Lacey faces.
Thus, Lacey begins a year of marking things off her very much sensual, sometimes racy bucket list. I will leave the rest to your imagination, or better yet, if you read the book, you can follow along on her adventure.
There is a twist to this. Lacey is learning to accept herself, including her body, and as she stares down the path of her future, she has to choose if she will be empowered, or if she will be a victim- both before and after the surgery.
The Bucket List is a smart, often times witty, escapade. At the heart of this book is female empowerment, especially when it comes to our bodies. We need more books like this. Sometimes we read about main characters who are insecure. While that is where Lacey starts, and it lets those of us who feel insecure also feel validated, we, too, need models of women working past that.
I appreciate that Georgia Clark wrote this story, her research into the possible mental and physical health changes associated with inheriting the BRCA1 gene, including interviewing women affected, and I applaud her choices in the coming of age of Lacey. The Bucket List has emotion and tenderness with some humor for levity in what can be an earth-shattering, fear-inducing place. While this is not every woman’s story who finds herself carrying the BRCA1 gene, and I don’t think it is meant to be, it is one woman’s journey towards self-acceptance, and a heartwarming one at that.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
April 20, 2018
I received this book for free through an ARC giveaway on the author’s Instagram page.
Please note, that despite the cute cover, this book does contain a lot of sex talk and sex scenes.
Omg this book was amazing. It was serious, yet funny. Sexy but sweet.
This was a very unique read. I’ve never read anything like it before. It was like a chick lit book, but less superficial and more deep than they typically get.
The book deals with a very serious topic, being BRCA1 positive. The way the author handles it is incredibly well done. She did a phenomenal job tapping into the emotions and anxieties that come with the diagnosis. You can tell the author did a tremendous amount of research.
I loved how sex positive this entire book was. Like I mentioned before, there is a lot of sex in this book, but it is never seen as a bad thing. It even calls out some double standards.
I also loved the diversity. The main character’s two best friends were both POC. One was Asian and the other was British Indian who was also a lesbian. Even many of the love interests/sexual partners were POC too, including an Iranian fashion designer. I’ve read quite a few books set in New York City, but none had this much diversity.
The romance aspects felt very real. All the decisions the main character made regarding her love life felt plausible. Sometimes romances can end up being too far fetched, so it was nice to see one that was more grounded.
Lastly, the final 30 pages of the book were incredibly heartfelt and I just loved it! There was a lot of emotion and heart.
Overall, if you’re looking for a different kind of chick lit book, I really recommend this one!
Please note, that despite the cute cover, this book does contain a lot of sex talk and sex scenes.
Omg this book was amazing. It was serious, yet funny. Sexy but sweet.
This was a very unique read. I’ve never read anything like it before. It was like a chick lit book, but less superficial and more deep than they typically get.
The book deals with a very serious topic, being BRCA1 positive. The way the author handles it is incredibly well done. She did a phenomenal job tapping into the emotions and anxieties that come with the diagnosis. You can tell the author did a tremendous amount of research.
I loved how sex positive this entire book was. Like I mentioned before, there is a lot of sex in this book, but it is never seen as a bad thing. It even calls out some double standards.
I also loved the diversity. The main character’s two best friends were both POC. One was Asian and the other was British Indian who was also a lesbian. Even many of the love interests/sexual partners were POC too, including an Iranian fashion designer. I’ve read quite a few books set in New York City, but none had this much diversity.
The romance aspects felt very real. All the decisions the main character made regarding her love life felt plausible. Sometimes romances can end up being too far fetched, so it was nice to see one that was more grounded.
Lastly, the final 30 pages of the book were incredibly heartfelt and I just loved it! There was a lot of emotion and heart.
Overall, if you’re looking for a different kind of chick lit book, I really recommend this one!
June 26, 2023
25-year-old Lacey is caught off guard when she’s diagnosed with having the gene that can cause increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. What does this mean for her future and medical choices? And is she ready to make such a life altering decision at such a young age?
This was a great story, full of heavy moments and light, funny ones as Lacey explores her sexuality in a quest to have a “bucket list” of experiences before potentially making the decision whether or not to have a mastectomy. The writing was fun and upbeat. I liked the relationship she had with her friends, the troubled relationship written with her sister, and especially Cooper. In the first part of the book as she was working her way through the meaningless flings, it was funny, though maybe not so meaningful, so I was glad when things with Cooper started to heat up. The author did an amazing job of writing Lacey’s emotional journey of deciding whether or not to have surgery as an option for preventing breast cancer, as well as the journey of self-acceptance. Loved this book!
This was a great story, full of heavy moments and light, funny ones as Lacey explores her sexuality in a quest to have a “bucket list” of experiences before potentially making the decision whether or not to have a mastectomy. The writing was fun and upbeat. I liked the relationship she had with her friends, the troubled relationship written with her sister, and especially Cooper. In the first part of the book as she was working her way through the meaningless flings, it was funny, though maybe not so meaningful, so I was glad when things with Cooper started to heat up. The author did an amazing job of writing Lacey’s emotional journey of deciding whether or not to have surgery as an option for preventing breast cancer, as well as the journey of self-acceptance. Loved this book!
September 10, 2018
This was a great book! There is some serious subject matter as 25 year old, Lacey, was diagnosed with the breast cancer gene. She has a tough decision to make. Does she get a mastectomy or opt for constant screening and fear of what her future holds. Her journey to make this decision includes a boob bucket list compiled with the help of her closest friends.
It’s been a very long time since I was 25 years old but I could still relate to Lacey. I can’t imagine facing a diagnosis like she did at such a young age so I really don’t know how I would have handled it. There were some laugh out loud moments and some moments where I rolled my eyes and muttered under my breath at her because I thought she was being too self absorbed. There were some pretty steamy sex scenes too!
I highly recommend this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s been a very long time since I was 25 years old but I could still relate to Lacey. I can’t imagine facing a diagnosis like she did at such a young age so I really don’t know how I would have handled it. There were some laugh out loud moments and some moments where I rolled my eyes and muttered under my breath at her because I thought she was being too self absorbed. There were some pretty steamy sex scenes too!
I highly recommend this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 11, 2018
I honestly don’t think the blurb for this one accurately conveys exactly what type of story this one really is, I feel like it doesn’t totally prepare you for both how emotional it is and also how sexy it is. Bit of a weird combo, right? No doubt about that and while it sounds strange it works in an odd way.
It took me awhile to warm to this one, initially I found it a bit hard to switch between some tender and touching moments where Lacey deals with her feelings about a possible double mastectomy and then onto the next chapter where she’s off on one of her sexcapades as part of her boob bucket list. It was a big leap to say the least and the sex scenes aren’t the type left up to the readers imagination but instead are graphic and racy making the transition pretty bold.
As I kept reading this I did become more accustomed to the style and vibe of the book and I enjoyed it more as I found a groove. It was one of those reads that just kept getting better the further along I read, so for me it was worth it in the end. This was really witty and felt hip and modern, definitely a book a twenty something could relate to as Lacey herself is edgy and cool but there was enough depth and maturity that someone older (ahem cough ME) could still relate on some level. The overall message was fantastic, very female positive and kick ass without being cheesy. It’s definitely not your average chick lit book and I admire the author for making some bold choices and tackling an extremely scary and serious subject matter in a really interesting way.
The Bucket List in three words: Provocative, Empowering and Honest.
It took me awhile to warm to this one, initially I found it a bit hard to switch between some tender and touching moments where Lacey deals with her feelings about a possible double mastectomy and then onto the next chapter where she’s off on one of her sexcapades as part of her boob bucket list. It was a big leap to say the least and the sex scenes aren’t the type left up to the readers imagination but instead are graphic and racy making the transition pretty bold.
As I kept reading this I did become more accustomed to the style and vibe of the book and I enjoyed it more as I found a groove. It was one of those reads that just kept getting better the further along I read, so for me it was worth it in the end. This was really witty and felt hip and modern, definitely a book a twenty something could relate to as Lacey herself is edgy and cool but there was enough depth and maturity that someone older (ahem cough ME) could still relate on some level. The overall message was fantastic, very female positive and kick ass without being cheesy. It’s definitely not your average chick lit book and I admire the author for making some bold choices and tackling an extremely scary and serious subject matter in a really interesting way.
The Bucket List in three words: Provocative, Empowering and Honest.
August 28, 2018
This book started off promising but then it became painfully obvious that the writer is a raging liberal and that should have turned me off at chapter ten when Lacey was wearing a T-shirt stating “I miss Barack” I should have quit then but since I was invested I kept trucking as per usual. There was the very disgusting mention of an abortion like it’s a dentist cleaning, a character who has two fathers who are socialist college professors like that is a non issue and should be normal. This same character sold his start up business for $40 million and then bought the dads a house with the money. Typical liberal, idealizes socialism but benefits from capitalism. Look, I read books to escape all this bull political shit.
All that aside, the main character of this book, Lacey was a disgusting slut. Sleeping with everyone. I’m not a prude and love a romance novel actually more than the next gal, but my cup of tea is not to bounce from bed to bed and sex club to sex club with different people. It’s gross. The message should have been powerful, a lady having a preventative mastectomy could have been so different told in a different angle. Just disappointing. Leave the politics out of fiction books or clearly mark it so I can skip it. They mark Christian fiction and they should also mark liberal American bashing books as well.
All that aside, the main character of this book, Lacey was a disgusting slut. Sleeping with everyone. I’m not a prude and love a romance novel actually more than the next gal, but my cup of tea is not to bounce from bed to bed and sex club to sex club with different people. It’s gross. The message should have been powerful, a lady having a preventative mastectomy could have been so different told in a different angle. Just disappointing. Leave the politics out of fiction books or clearly mark it so I can skip it. They mark Christian fiction and they should also mark liberal American bashing books as well.
August 10, 2024
I loved this book! I've had it sitting on my TBR pile for years... so glad that I finally picked it up.
August 12, 2018
The second I finished The Bucket List, I hugged it. Like, literally. I clutched it to my chest and wailed. Luckily, I was home alone and therefore didn't terrify anybody. This book is my new everything. How could it be so funny and oh-girl-no-ing and sexy and honest, all at the same time?! Like, what sensation DIDN'T I experience while reading The Bucket List? (This is obviously rhetorical because I felt just about every emotion I'm capable of feeling.)
I mean, I should be peeved with Georgia Clark because I don't super-love feeling emotionally vulnerable, and tend to give a wide birth to books that strive to tug at my heartstrings. Clark lured me in with hilarious wit and, like a frog boiling to death, had me connecting with Lacey so strongly that now I'm a mess. Ughhhhhhh. The ultimate uplifting nature after so much sadness and personal growth was too much for me to handle!! Curse (and bless) you Georgia Clark! *shakes fist while stifling sob*
In short, this book is awesome. Read it.
Thanks to Atria for an ARC.
I mean, I should be peeved with Georgia Clark because I don't super-love feeling emotionally vulnerable, and tend to give a wide birth to books that strive to tug at my heartstrings. Clark lured me in with hilarious wit and, like a frog boiling to death, had me connecting with Lacey so strongly that now I'm a mess. Ughhhhhhh. The ultimate uplifting nature after so much sadness and personal growth was too much for me to handle!! Curse (and bless) you Georgia Clark! *shakes fist while stifling sob*
In short, this book is awesome. Read it.
Thanks to Atria for an ARC.
December 2, 2018
As a breast cancer survivor, I was expecting a lot more from this book. I didn't like the main character. I didn't like the "bucket list." I didn't finish the book. Do not recommend.
April 20, 2018
Expertly paced and beautifully told, THE BUCKET LIST delivers a perfect balance of poignancy and hilarity. Georgia Clark has the uncanny ability to create characters that already feel like friends and to explore dark decisions with just the right amount of empathy and verve. An absolute knock(ers) out!
August 6, 2018
I simply LOVED the latest from the very talented Georgia Clark. She leads us through Lacey's world with compassion and humor - this book was funny, raw, emotionally gripping, and a page-turner that made me think. A beach read with a big heart.
Want to read
May 3, 2018Yayy <3 <3
February 7, 2021
Lacey ist 25 als sie erfährt, dass sie ein hohes Brustkrebs Risiko hat und steht vor der Entscheidung, ob sie sich die Brüste abnehmen lassen soll, um das Krebs Risiko zu senken. Um sich die Entscheidung leichter zu machen, erstellt sie eine Busen-Bucketlist.
Ich war sehr gespannt auf das Buch und habe mich riesig darauf gefreut, es zu lesen. Und die ersten 70 Seiten haben mir ebenfalls gut gefallen. Das Thema Brustkrebs wurde sehr sensibel behandelt und ich konnte Laceys Gedanken nachvollziehen. Dann jedoch hat sich das Buch für mich in eine vollkommen andere Richtung entwickelt und ich war von jeder Seite mehr enttäuscht. Auf jeder Seite habe ich mich gefragt, ob ich auch so handeln würde wie Lacey und habe immer mehr den Zugang zur Geschichte verloren. Alle Beziehungen die Lacey zu anderen Charakteren hatte, wirkten für mich falsch und die Unterhaltungen aufgesetzt. Bis hin zum Ende, hat sich daran auch nichts geändert und ich war sehr enttäuscht, da ich mehr Tiefe erwartet habe.
Eine Sache, die ich an dem Buch mochte, war, die viele Diversity, die in dem Buch vorhanden ist und dort ganz natürlich eingearbeitet wurde.
Ich war sehr gespannt auf das Buch und habe mich riesig darauf gefreut, es zu lesen. Und die ersten 70 Seiten haben mir ebenfalls gut gefallen. Das Thema Brustkrebs wurde sehr sensibel behandelt und ich konnte Laceys Gedanken nachvollziehen. Dann jedoch hat sich das Buch für mich in eine vollkommen andere Richtung entwickelt und ich war von jeder Seite mehr enttäuscht. Auf jeder Seite habe ich mich gefragt, ob ich auch so handeln würde wie Lacey und habe immer mehr den Zugang zur Geschichte verloren. Alle Beziehungen die Lacey zu anderen Charakteren hatte, wirkten für mich falsch und die Unterhaltungen aufgesetzt. Bis hin zum Ende, hat sich daran auch nichts geändert und ich war sehr enttäuscht, da ich mehr Tiefe erwartet habe.
Eine Sache, die ich an dem Buch mochte, war, die viele Diversity, die in dem Buch vorhanden ist und dort ganz natürlich eingearbeitet wurde.
June 23, 2018
Have you ever read the summary of a book, expected one thing, and then gotten something very much different from what you thought it would be? That was basically my experience with reading The Bucket List by Georgia Clark.
But oh, what a wonderful thing that was!
I expected straight "chick lit." I expected a bit of drama, a few laughs, some romance, and although I knew the book was about the breast cancer gene, I still expected it to be fairly light reading.
The reality is that this book was absolutely nothing like anything I have ever read before. Yes, it was chick lit. Yes, there was a bit of drama, a few laughs, some romance, and it was still fairly light reading. But there was SO much more. There was also a lot of sex--HOT sex--and far more depth and emotion than I expected. This is not straight-up chick lit. This is one of those rare books that I'm not quite sure how to classify, actually, and I'm not quite sure how to capture, with words, the way The Bucket List made me feel.
The Bucket List begins with Lacey Whitman receiving the news that she has tested positive for BCRA1 gene mutation, otherwise known as the "breast cancer gene." She is presented with two options: she can choose a wait-and-see approach and get tested every few months or she can opt for a preventative mastectomy, which would reduce her chances of actually developing breast cancer to a very minimal percentage.
Lacey's decision is a struggle for her for many reasons. She's only 25, has a high-pressure job in the fashion industry, and doesn't have any family to lean on for support except for a sister who resents her for having to raise her after their mother died--from breast cancer--and didn't want her to get tested for the gene in the first place. While she weighs her options, Lacey decides to develop a "bucket list" of things she wants to do to celebrate her sexuality that she has never been brave enough to do. She wants to sunbathe topless. Have a threesome. Wear a revealing dress to a public function. Have sex in a public place.
The amazing thing about The Bucket List is that it handles a very serious and dramatic topic with truth and honesty, but it still has all the lighthearted and sexy moments that one would expect in its genre. And those sexy moments are definitely sexy--and graphic--but they don't make the book smutty. They don't take away from the heart of it. Instead, they serve as their own powerful moments in Lacey's journey of self-discovery.
Meanwhile, Lacey also has to deal with work pressures, romantic problems, family drama, and squabbles with friends. Georgia Clark has done a masterful job of showing that even though life sometimes deals devastating blows, it also keeps moving forward. She portrayed Lacey's struggle with her decision in open and honest terms and didn't gloss over the scary or tragic parts at all.
And somehow, in the midst of it all, Clark also managed to craft a book that qualifies as chick lit while still being an intersectional feminist wonder, despite featuring a straight, white female as the lead character. The Bucket List is a powerful statement on friendship, happiness, sexuality, life, and love...all at the same time. Well done, Georgia Clark.
But oh, what a wonderful thing that was!
I expected straight "chick lit." I expected a bit of drama, a few laughs, some romance, and although I knew the book was about the breast cancer gene, I still expected it to be fairly light reading.
The reality is that this book was absolutely nothing like anything I have ever read before. Yes, it was chick lit. Yes, there was a bit of drama, a few laughs, some romance, and it was still fairly light reading. But there was SO much more. There was also a lot of sex--HOT sex--and far more depth and emotion than I expected. This is not straight-up chick lit. This is one of those rare books that I'm not quite sure how to classify, actually, and I'm not quite sure how to capture, with words, the way The Bucket List made me feel.
The Bucket List begins with Lacey Whitman receiving the news that she has tested positive for BCRA1 gene mutation, otherwise known as the "breast cancer gene." She is presented with two options: she can choose a wait-and-see approach and get tested every few months or she can opt for a preventative mastectomy, which would reduce her chances of actually developing breast cancer to a very minimal percentage.
Lacey's decision is a struggle for her for many reasons. She's only 25, has a high-pressure job in the fashion industry, and doesn't have any family to lean on for support except for a sister who resents her for having to raise her after their mother died--from breast cancer--and didn't want her to get tested for the gene in the first place. While she weighs her options, Lacey decides to develop a "bucket list" of things she wants to do to celebrate her sexuality that she has never been brave enough to do. She wants to sunbathe topless. Have a threesome. Wear a revealing dress to a public function. Have sex in a public place.
The amazing thing about The Bucket List is that it handles a very serious and dramatic topic with truth and honesty, but it still has all the lighthearted and sexy moments that one would expect in its genre. And those sexy moments are definitely sexy--and graphic--but they don't make the book smutty. They don't take away from the heart of it. Instead, they serve as their own powerful moments in Lacey's journey of self-discovery.
Meanwhile, Lacey also has to deal with work pressures, romantic problems, family drama, and squabbles with friends. Georgia Clark has done a masterful job of showing that even though life sometimes deals devastating blows, it also keeps moving forward. She portrayed Lacey's struggle with her decision in open and honest terms and didn't gloss over the scary or tragic parts at all.
And somehow, in the midst of it all, Clark also managed to craft a book that qualifies as chick lit while still being an intersectional feminist wonder, despite featuring a straight, white female as the lead character. The Bucket List is a powerful statement on friendship, happiness, sexuality, life, and love...all at the same time. Well done, Georgia Clark.
March 30, 2021
"Bucket List - Nur wer fällt, kann fliegen lernen" von Georgia Clark ist ein Buch, auf das ich mich riesig gefreut habe und an das ich relativ hohe Erwartungen hatte. Ich habe außerdem überall hauptsächlich nur positive Rezensionen zu dem Buch gesehen und wurde dadurch neugierig. Optisch sticht einem natürliche zuerst das feminine Cover ins Auge. Die rote Coverfarbe mit den rosa Punkten ist meiner Meinung nach ausdrucksstark und wirkt nicht aufdringlich. Es ist auffällig und spricht mich an. Das T-Shirt harmoniert mit dem Titel. Und die Zeichnung darauf passt zum Thema.
Als die Protagonistin Lacey erfährt, dass sie wahrscheinlich an Brustkrebs erkranken wird, stellt sie eine Liste mit Dingen auf, die sie unbedingt noch erleben will (mit ihren Brüste). Nun ja, von dieser Liste hatte ich mir ein wenig mehr erhofft. Fast jeder Punkt darauf steht im Zusammenhang mit Sex. Aber man kann doch noch so viel anderes mit seinen Brüsten anstellen! Bestimmte Punkte auf der Liste z.B. oben ohne Sonnenbaden, Aktfotos machen lassen oder ein Tittenparadenkleid zu einem schicken Event tragen, spielten kaum eine Rolle. Mir ist bewusst, dass die Autorin nicht nur über Brustkrebs ein Buch schreiben wollte, aber ich hätte mir doch noch etwas mehr zu dem Thema erhofft. Den Großteil der Geschichte über redet die Protagonistin über ihre Arbeit, ist auf der Arbeit oder rennt Männern nach, um sich mit Sex zu beschäftigen...
Lacey wusste nie was sie will, was ihr Spaß macht und hat sich ziemlich oft kindisch und dumm benommen. Ihr Charakter war mir überhaupt nicht sympathisch und ich mochte sie nicht. Zu den weiteren Charaktern haben mir meist die Zusammenhänge gefehlt. Ich mochte jedoch den Charakterwandel ihrer Schwester und ihre Freundin Steph. Auch die männlichen Charaktere in diesem Buch, also Elan und Cooper, lernt man eher flüchtig kennen. Das war zwar okay, allerdings konnte ich nicht nachvollziehen, weshalb Lacey sich zu beiden hingezogen gefühlt hat.
Der Schreibstil von Georgia Clark hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Er war nicht mega besonders, aber einfach zu verstehen und auf eine lockere Art. Am meisten hat mich leider die Handlung gestört. Das Buch ist gefüllt mit vielen Beschreibungen von Lacey's Beruf. Ich hatte das Gefühl den Durchblick zu verlieren und denke, dass man davon einiges hätte weglassen können, da es so uninteressant war. Das Ende hat mich immerhin positiv überzeugen können. Das Buch ist erfrischend, wenn man etwas über Brustkrebs erfahren möchte, aber meine Erwartungen konnte es nicht erfüllen.
Als die Protagonistin Lacey erfährt, dass sie wahrscheinlich an Brustkrebs erkranken wird, stellt sie eine Liste mit Dingen auf, die sie unbedingt noch erleben will (mit ihren Brüste). Nun ja, von dieser Liste hatte ich mir ein wenig mehr erhofft. Fast jeder Punkt darauf steht im Zusammenhang mit Sex. Aber man kann doch noch so viel anderes mit seinen Brüsten anstellen! Bestimmte Punkte auf der Liste z.B. oben ohne Sonnenbaden, Aktfotos machen lassen oder ein Tittenparadenkleid zu einem schicken Event tragen, spielten kaum eine Rolle. Mir ist bewusst, dass die Autorin nicht nur über Brustkrebs ein Buch schreiben wollte, aber ich hätte mir doch noch etwas mehr zu dem Thema erhofft. Den Großteil der Geschichte über redet die Protagonistin über ihre Arbeit, ist auf der Arbeit oder rennt Männern nach, um sich mit Sex zu beschäftigen...
Lacey wusste nie was sie will, was ihr Spaß macht und hat sich ziemlich oft kindisch und dumm benommen. Ihr Charakter war mir überhaupt nicht sympathisch und ich mochte sie nicht. Zu den weiteren Charaktern haben mir meist die Zusammenhänge gefehlt. Ich mochte jedoch den Charakterwandel ihrer Schwester und ihre Freundin Steph. Auch die männlichen Charaktere in diesem Buch, also Elan und Cooper, lernt man eher flüchtig kennen. Das war zwar okay, allerdings konnte ich nicht nachvollziehen, weshalb Lacey sich zu beiden hingezogen gefühlt hat.
Der Schreibstil von Georgia Clark hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Er war nicht mega besonders, aber einfach zu verstehen und auf eine lockere Art. Am meisten hat mich leider die Handlung gestört. Das Buch ist gefüllt mit vielen Beschreibungen von Lacey's Beruf. Ich hatte das Gefühl den Durchblick zu verlieren und denke, dass man davon einiges hätte weglassen können, da es so uninteressant war. Das Ende hat mich immerhin positiv überzeugen können. Das Buch ist erfrischend, wenn man etwas über Brustkrebs erfahren möchte, aber meine Erwartungen konnte es nicht erfüllen.
July 3, 2018
I actually knew someone who decided to go for the double mastectomy after being diagnosed with one of these gene mutations. She had already been married and had kids and decided that life is probably better without natural breasts than eventually getting cancer. After a few weeks of being away from her job, she was right back there working at full steam as if nothing had happened.
I'm pretty sure everyone knows this, but sometimes life gives you a set of challenges and your objective is to navigate through these challenges...or die. This is the kind of decision Lacey needs to make for herself, but like any normal human being it's more than just a decision to have breasts or not. It's a huge lifestyle change and you need to be willing to change.
I loved how honest and serious this book was despite the book and Lacey's tone and voice. I found myself really invested in what happens to Lacey and almost wanted to reach into the book and talk to her about what she's going through. Lacey just seems to me like the type of person who would hide what she truly feels to protect her friends, her loved ones, and even herself. However, a big diagnosis like testing positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation is very big to hide on your own.
And Georgia Clark really takes the care to make sure the reader understands how difficult and big this decision is. When I first started reading this book, I was already decided that I would get a double mastectomy if that was the case for me. However, as I continued to read this book I had to double guess myself. It would be a huge transition especially when you've been comfortable with your own body for quite some years. Losing your breasts is a big change and similar to that of losing an arm or a leg.
But the seriousness of the book is met with a huge amount of brevity in the form of several sexcapades. Lacey's boob bucket list includes many different sexual encounters all of which are attempted to be met throughout the novel. I don't want to give away the list, but it contains such things as nude sun bathing and having sex with a woman (Lacey's character is a straight cis female). It all seems like fun and games, but at the same time you know that this is the last time you'd be able to do these things with the breasts you've had since you were 15. It really felt like an homage to your breasts and how the life after this one will be slightly different.
I thought this book was the kind of book that will make you think about real women issues like breast cancer as well as give you a little bit of fun. Not everything in life is serious and even though a double mastectomy isn't a Saturday afternoon in the park, it's also not the end-all of your life. I think that's what I loved about this book. Cancer is scary. Getting preventative surgery can save your life, but it doesn't also mean your life is over. If that makes sense.
I will say the only thing that really annoyed me about this book is the words-separated-by-hyphens. I think that Georgia Clark was trying to convey Lacey's personality with this style of verbiage, but after a while it was a little fatiguing to see a lot of descriptive phrasing replaced with this. It's a style choice that bugged me, but really didn't take away from the story as a whole.
I received a copy of this book from Atria Books for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
December 5, 2018
To be honest I was a bit scared to read this book. I have had so many opinions thrown at me over the past few years and I was petrified that I was going to encounter something that would just make me mad. However I felt as a survivor it was important for me to read it so I could share with my fellow #thrivers and #survivors .
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I really appreciated the authenticity of the main characters fears and frustrations. As someone who has dealt with a breast cancer diagnosis I think the author did a fantastic job conveying the process and fears one has. I think it brings a greater awareness for how difficult a decision it is to have a mastectomy. It is NEVER as simple as you think. I think this book will help sensitize those that are affected by breast cancer. 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, so there is a good chance you know someone or have someone close to you that may have to face these decisions. I also really loved Steph. She was such an amazing friend. Present and supportive, not opinionated and a fantastic listener. The exact friend you need when going through this situation.
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The rest of the book fell flat for me. I just wasn’t that interested and found her love life to be a bit cliche. She was trying to be someone she wasn’t and yes that was part of her journey but I just wasn’t that interested. I found myself skimming about halfway through. I think I would have dnf’d this if I didn’t have the personal connection to the story.
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Thoughtful, Racy and Genuine I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️’s.
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I really appreciated the authenticity of the main characters fears and frustrations. As someone who has dealt with a breast cancer diagnosis I think the author did a fantastic job conveying the process and fears one has. I think it brings a greater awareness for how difficult a decision it is to have a mastectomy. It is NEVER as simple as you think. I think this book will help sensitize those that are affected by breast cancer. 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, so there is a good chance you know someone or have someone close to you that may have to face these decisions. I also really loved Steph. She was such an amazing friend. Present and supportive, not opinionated and a fantastic listener. The exact friend you need when going through this situation.
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The rest of the book fell flat for me. I just wasn’t that interested and found her love life to be a bit cliche. She was trying to be someone she wasn’t and yes that was part of her journey but I just wasn’t that interested. I found myself skimming about halfway through. I think I would have dnf’d this if I didn’t have the personal connection to the story.
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Thoughtful, Racy and Genuine I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️’s.
February 17, 2021
*Das Buch habe ich durch Vorablesen als Leseexemplar zur Verfügung gestellt bekommen. Meine Meinung ist davon unabhängig.*
Lacey ist 25, als sie erfährt, dass sie eine BRCA1-Mutation hat. Und somit auch ein erhöhtes Risiko für Brustkrebs. Da ihre Mutter in jungen Jahren an Brustkrebs gestorben ist, entscheidet sich Lacey für eine doppelte Mastektomie (Abnahme der Brust). Doch davor will sie mit ihren Brüsten noch ein paar Dinge erleben: deswegen erstellt sie eine Bucket List.
Bis hierhin ging die Leseprobe und es hat mir unglaublich gut gefallen! Ich wollte mehr lesen!! Ich wollte mehr über die Bucket List erfahren.
Leider ist der Rest des Buches nicht mal annähernd so stark wie die ersten 70-100 Seiten. Ich habe mich wirklich gequält, dieses Buch zu beenden… deshalb habe ich auch so lange für die Rezension gebraucht.
Es werden sehr viele Themenbereiche aufgemacht. Lacey arbeitet in der Mode-Industrie. Es geht viel um Mode und um Apps, um ein Start-Up und um technische Dinge. Da kenn ich mich nicht aus, und das Buch hat mir diese Aspekte auch nicht nähergebracht. Ich hatte das Gefühl, dass ein gewisses Vorwissen für die Branche angenommen wurde – was ich nicht hatte. Ich habe viele der Paragrafen zwischen Lacey und ihrer Start-Up-Kollegin Vivian übersprungen, weil ich die einfach inhaltlich nicht verstanden habe.
Nun zum Inhalt der Bucket List: ich habe meine Brüste noch, ich habe auch keinen Brustkrebs oder ein erhöhtes Risiko durch eine Gen-Mutation. Ich hatte trotzdem eine Vorstellung davon, was ich machen würde, wenn ich meinen Brüsten Lebewohl sagen müsste – Gipsabdruck, Oben-Ohne-Fotos, oder FKK-Strand hätte ich auf so einer Liste erwartet.
Tja, falsch gedacht. Lacey will Sex. Weil Sex ohne Brüste nicht geht… Sie hat Sex mit mehreren Personen, mit einer Frau, in einem Auto, in einem Sex-Club/Kerker. Mir persönlich haben diese Szenen überhaupt nicht gefallen. Sie waren geschmackslos, und es waren zu viele.
Ich konnte auch die Argumentation nicht nachvollziehen, warum sie so viel Sex haben will, solange sie noch ihre Brüste hat. Ich hätte gerne Laceys Gedankengänge dazu näher kennengelernt. Denn für mich war das kein Problem… wenn sie sich so unwohl ohne Brüste fühlt, dann kann sie sich doch Implantate machen lassen? Ich hätte gerne verstanden, warum das für Lacey so ein Problem war.
Der Stil war mir stellenweise zu kindisch, nicht mein Humor. Gefühlt immer ein Ticken zu viel. Als Beispiel: „Date-Date-Date“. Ich finde die Umschreibung „Date-Date“ noch lustig, aber 3x ist für mich eins zu viel. Und „Tittchen“? Was ist das für ein Wort?
Die Autorin versucht, ein wichtiges und schwieriges Thema mit viel Humor und „Sexyness“ zu verpacken. Meiner Meinung nach schießt es über sein Ziel hinaus, und ist zwanghaft lustig und erotisch. Ich gebe dem Buch 2-2,5 Sterne.
February 11, 2019
This book was good at the start, by the middle I didn't care about any of the characters, and ended super strong. I loved the author's take on a relatively new situation many women find themselves in: What do I do if I find out I have a genetic mutation that drastically increases the chances that I will get breast cancer? I loved where Lacey ended up and I'll never turn down a romantic Harry Potter gesture.
Favorite Quote: "If this whole ordeal has forced me to admit anything to myself, it's that I want love. I want to get married. I think I even want a baby, maybe two. I want a full, extraordinary life with someone who challenge me, and laughs with me, and is hungry for adventure and intellectual pursuit and sex. I want a partner, in the most expansive sense of the world. It feels terrifying to admit this, because I might not get it. I have very little control over making it happen; I can't conjure it through sheer will and hard work, like I conjured the rest of my life in New York. But I want. I want love"
Favorite Quote: "If this whole ordeal has forced me to admit anything to myself, it's that I want love. I want to get married. I think I even want a baby, maybe two. I want a full, extraordinary life with someone who challenge me, and laughs with me, and is hungry for adventure and intellectual pursuit and sex. I want a partner, in the most expansive sense of the world. It feels terrifying to admit this, because I might not get it. I have very little control over making it happen; I can't conjure it through sheer will and hard work, like I conjured the rest of my life in New York. But I want. I want love"
September 27, 2018
If I had skimmed this book before buying, I could have saved $20.80. As much as I dislike saying I hate a book, I really do hate this one.
Main character Lacey is terrible. Barely relatable and decent in the loosest way. The best 3 characters in this book are her best friend Steph, her crush Cooper, and her niece Storm, and she doesn’t deserve any of them. Not to mention the narrative is basically “if you’re bigger than a size 4, that’s your life punishment, you’re fat.” Fuck off. The mentions of size and weight are so unnecessary yet they’re strewn throughout the book.
There are so many fashion references. I get it, Lacey works in the fashion industry so it’s bound to come up, but it’s nonstop name dropping and outfit descriptions. I almost feel like Georgia Clark was paid by fashion designers to mention their clothes and companies in a book, and she decided to throw breast cancer and sex into it to spice it up and make it a full novel.
“Witty” and “sexy” are the two words in a quote on the cover used to describe the book. However, it is not witty nor is it sexy. Yes, there is sex - quite a bit. But I personally didn’t find any of it sexy. It felt forced, it didn’t belong in some areas, and it got kind of annoying.
All I could think while reading was that this book is like Clark watched the TV show “The Bold Type” (a show I actually love, I don’t care about your judgement) and copied the basics of it. Girl in her mid-twenties finds out she has the BRCA gene mutation, which is what her mom died of at a young age; she has a lesbian best friend; she lives and works in NYC; she is in charge but not total control of her sex/love life. I honestly don’t know if Clark started writing this book before that show began airing, and I don’t want to accuse her of plagiarism somehow, but this book is like the poorly-written version of that show.
I will commend Clark for writing in detail about BRCA gene mutation, stressing the importance of catching breast cancer early and getting screened early if there is a family history, showing that mastectomy can be a viable option for young women, and showing that it’s a scary and soul-searching process for anyone no matter your age. Kudos to her for writing a novel geared primarily towards young women that educates them and maybe represents their situation.
This isn’t the worst book I’ve ever read, but it is not a book I would read again or recommend to anyone.
Main character Lacey is terrible. Barely relatable and decent in the loosest way. The best 3 characters in this book are her best friend Steph, her crush Cooper, and her niece Storm, and she doesn’t deserve any of them. Not to mention the narrative is basically “if you’re bigger than a size 4, that’s your life punishment, you’re fat.” Fuck off. The mentions of size and weight are so unnecessary yet they’re strewn throughout the book.
There are so many fashion references. I get it, Lacey works in the fashion industry so it’s bound to come up, but it’s nonstop name dropping and outfit descriptions. I almost feel like Georgia Clark was paid by fashion designers to mention their clothes and companies in a book, and she decided to throw breast cancer and sex into it to spice it up and make it a full novel.
“Witty” and “sexy” are the two words in a quote on the cover used to describe the book. However, it is not witty nor is it sexy. Yes, there is sex - quite a bit. But I personally didn’t find any of it sexy. It felt forced, it didn’t belong in some areas, and it got kind of annoying.
All I could think while reading was that this book is like Clark watched the TV show “The Bold Type” (a show I actually love, I don’t care about your judgement) and copied the basics of it. Girl in her mid-twenties finds out she has the BRCA gene mutation, which is what her mom died of at a young age; she has a lesbian best friend; she lives and works in NYC; she is in charge but not total control of her sex/love life. I honestly don’t know if Clark started writing this book before that show began airing, and I don’t want to accuse her of plagiarism somehow, but this book is like the poorly-written version of that show.
I will commend Clark for writing in detail about BRCA gene mutation, stressing the importance of catching breast cancer early and getting screened early if there is a family history, showing that mastectomy can be a viable option for young women, and showing that it’s a scary and soul-searching process for anyone no matter your age. Kudos to her for writing a novel geared primarily towards young women that educates them and maybe represents their situation.
This isn’t the worst book I’ve ever read, but it is not a book I would read again or recommend to anyone.
August 24, 2018
4.5 stars
I really, really enjoyed this one. I found it to be pretty uplifting, even though it dealt with a very serious topic. There were definitely moments where I teared up or really felt for the brevity of the situation, but overall I very much enjoyed the tone of the novel.
This one was a little long, but I found it picked up in the 2nd half and I was eager to know how it'd all work out. I liked Lacey's journey - her friendships, her job(s), her lovers/sexual escapades, hook-ups, etc were all explored and I enjoyed how they were interwoven. The NY fashion scene is always a backdrop that I enjoy reading about as well. Although this book was about the main character having the gene for breast cancer, I found it pretty lighthearted overall. It absolutely made me appreciate what I have, but also made me wonder what I'd do in her situation. The supporting characters were also lovable which made for an easy read. I'd classify this as chick-lit/rom-com that has a deeper purpose- would recommend to anyone who likes those genres!
I really, really enjoyed this one. I found it to be pretty uplifting, even though it dealt with a very serious topic. There were definitely moments where I teared up or really felt for the brevity of the situation, but overall I very much enjoyed the tone of the novel.
This one was a little long, but I found it picked up in the 2nd half and I was eager to know how it'd all work out. I liked Lacey's journey - her friendships, her job(s), her lovers/sexual escapades, hook-ups, etc were all explored and I enjoyed how they were interwoven. The NY fashion scene is always a backdrop that I enjoy reading about as well. Although this book was about the main character having the gene for breast cancer, I found it pretty lighthearted overall. It absolutely made me appreciate what I have, but also made me wonder what I'd do in her situation. The supporting characters were also lovable which made for an easy read. I'd classify this as chick-lit/rom-com that has a deeper purpose- would recommend to anyone who likes those genres!
July 2, 2018
This was a surprisingly good book. I only say surprising because I'm not huge on chick lit (as I assumed this was) and I was unsure if the topic would be interesting to me. It was! The main character was very compelling and I kept having to remind myself that she was 25 which excused many of her dumb decisions but also lends a specific outlook and perspective. I loved the subtle feminist/intersectional/progressive/LGBTQ viewpoints; they added to the overall fresh and modern feel of the book.
Really unique, I learned a lot, and enjoyed the ride. Well done.
Really unique, I learned a lot, and enjoyed the ride. Well done.
November 8, 2018
The idea of this book was good and Georgia's writing was spectacular. You can really tell she was destined to be a writer by how she conveys a character's feeling in one sentence. I really enjoyed her story because of it but it just felt like I was watching our main heroine setting herself on fire because her life was crumbling essentially. Understandable at first but tiresome and it left me not wanting to finish the book because it dragged.
I didn't finish this yet but I can tell you it'll be a 3/5 star book. For now, I'm putting it down but I may pick it up. DNF? not really.
I didn't finish this yet but I can tell you it'll be a 3/5 star book. For now, I'm putting it down but I may pick it up. DNF? not really.
August 9, 2018
While I understood it was supposed to be a light take on heavy subject matter, I really hated the protagonist. Almost identical in age I could not relate at all to how self-absorbed and completely removed from reality she was. This book was longer than it needed to be and the sex scenes missed the mark, not quite erotica but also not well-done or tasteful. Shame because I loved the author’s debut novel and this really missed the mark for me.
June 30, 2018
I sped through it and adored it. The scene involving a disastrous attempt at role-playing had me laughing out loud, yet by the last chapter I was in tears. Having had 6 friends get diagnosed with BC in the past 5 years, with treatments ranging from radiation to double mastectomy, this hit close to home. Funny, smart, edgy, and moving. What more could you ask for?
June 15, 2019
3.5? I really enjoyed this book overall! It’s about a 25 year old who decides to get a double mastectomy after finding out she has the BRCA1 gene and makes a bucket list for her boobs - fun but also many feelings ensue! It was very different from your standard romance with a lot more character development and a real plot, but still v steamy. Also written by a queer author and while it’s p hetero still, that definitely showed!
Things that I just could not get over:
The author really misses the mark in trying to be super ~progressive~ sometimes. How did this book get published in 2018 and repeatedly use the term “transsexual”? Also there was a pretty transphobic role play scene.
The main character is a fashion trend forecaster and I was not down with her style most of the time.
Things that I just could not get over:
The author really misses the mark in trying to be super ~progressive~ sometimes. How did this book get published in 2018 and repeatedly use the term “transsexual”? Also there was a pretty transphobic role play scene.
The main character is a fashion trend forecaster and I was not down with her style most of the time.
February 6, 2021
I came across The Bucket List at my local Dollarama for $3. It is a tragedy, in my opinion, that it sold for that little...but a miracle that I spotted it.
I was drawn to the book because of the bright, colourful cover. When I turned to the back for the synopsis, at first it followed the rom-com trajectory I was expecting. Then, it mentioned the fact that the main character, Lacey, tests positive for the BRCA1 generic mutation and into my shopping cart it went.
Almost 30 years ago, my maternal grandmother died of breast and ovarian cancer. Several years ago, my mother decided to get genetic testing done and found that she was positive for the BRCA1 genetic mutation. She bravely chose to have both a prophylactic mastectomy and an oophorectomy.
Because my mother carried the genetic mutation, I had a 50% chance of having it myself as well. After giving birth to my son, I decided in early 2020 to have myself tested. Knowledge, although terrifying at times, is power, after all.
A few weeks later I received a call and was told that I was negative for the BRCA1 mutation. I have never felt luckier than I did that day, finding out that I would not need to have any more gruelling surgeries after the emergency C-section that brought me my son.
I went into reading The Bucket List from the highly privileged position of being BRCA1 negative. But, I watched my mother go through every stage of the genetic testing, I nursed her through her 3 surgeries, and so anything BRCA1-related is extremely personal to me. If you don’t know anything about this genetic mutation or these surgeries, rather than writing a science report here, I urge you to do some research (Angelina Jolie tested positive a few years back, so information is easy to find).
With all this in mind, I can confidently say that I thoroughly enjoyed The Bucket List. It was a witty, entertaining book, and while it was not solely about cancer and had a rich plot besides that, the genetic mutation was not gratuitously used as a mere plot device. The subject, to me, was handled with grace and delicacy, but in realistic and glaring terms.
This book was messy. It was messy and it was human and it was real. Lacey is, as a heroine, very flawed, but that is what makes her so easy to like. She is immature and emotional and frustrating at times, but she is also a young woman dealing with a plate overly full, and her journey is a very interesting and heart-wrenching one. I found myself drawn to her imperfections and insecurities and, as I said, she is so real that it is hard not to root for her and rally behind her fledgling strength.
This book was not at all what I expected, and I am so grateful for that. It was altogether more robust and compassionate and raw, and I think it was respectful to anyone who has dealt with a similar situation in real-life. I will be passing it along to my mother to read next, and I recommend it to any young women and men who are curious about this topic and about hereditary cancers in general.
I was drawn to the book because of the bright, colourful cover. When I turned to the back for the synopsis, at first it followed the rom-com trajectory I was expecting. Then, it mentioned the fact that the main character, Lacey, tests positive for the BRCA1 generic mutation and into my shopping cart it went.
Almost 30 years ago, my maternal grandmother died of breast and ovarian cancer. Several years ago, my mother decided to get genetic testing done and found that she was positive for the BRCA1 genetic mutation. She bravely chose to have both a prophylactic mastectomy and an oophorectomy.
Because my mother carried the genetic mutation, I had a 50% chance of having it myself as well. After giving birth to my son, I decided in early 2020 to have myself tested. Knowledge, although terrifying at times, is power, after all.
A few weeks later I received a call and was told that I was negative for the BRCA1 mutation. I have never felt luckier than I did that day, finding out that I would not need to have any more gruelling surgeries after the emergency C-section that brought me my son.
I went into reading The Bucket List from the highly privileged position of being BRCA1 negative. But, I watched my mother go through every stage of the genetic testing, I nursed her through her 3 surgeries, and so anything BRCA1-related is extremely personal to me. If you don’t know anything about this genetic mutation or these surgeries, rather than writing a science report here, I urge you to do some research (Angelina Jolie tested positive a few years back, so information is easy to find).
With all this in mind, I can confidently say that I thoroughly enjoyed The Bucket List. It was a witty, entertaining book, and while it was not solely about cancer and had a rich plot besides that, the genetic mutation was not gratuitously used as a mere plot device. The subject, to me, was handled with grace and delicacy, but in realistic and glaring terms.
This book was messy. It was messy and it was human and it was real. Lacey is, as a heroine, very flawed, but that is what makes her so easy to like. She is immature and emotional and frustrating at times, but she is also a young woman dealing with a plate overly full, and her journey is a very interesting and heart-wrenching one. I found myself drawn to her imperfections and insecurities and, as I said, she is so real that it is hard not to root for her and rally behind her fledgling strength.
This book was not at all what I expected, and I am so grateful for that. It was altogether more robust and compassionate and raw, and I think it was respectful to anyone who has dealt with a similar situation in real-life. I will be passing it along to my mother to read next, and I recommend it to any young women and men who are curious about this topic and about hereditary cancers in general.
August 16, 2018
I really enjoyed the many different nuances of this book. Lacey has just discovered she has the same gene her mother had which ultimately took her life at a young age. Her mother died of breast cancer and Lacey now has a very high chance of this happening to her. Lacey is a twenty something, fun, bubbly character but she is taking her health issues very seriously. After deciding she will get a preemptive bilateral mastectomy she decides to make a bucket list of all the sexual situations she wants to experience before her surgery. She admits her sex life has been less than exciting so she determines she wants to rectify this. Although the book covers a very serious issue there is a lot of humour too as Lacey methodically knocks thing off her bucket list. Lacey also begins to realize she has been very deceitful to many of her friends and coworkers and these relationships are in peril. I really liked the writing style and found Lacey’s story very compelling.
August 7, 2018
Georgia Clark is always smartly hilarious. I loved THE REGULARS and THE BUCKET LIST is an awesome follow up novel. A funny, poignant, sexy about a woman who discovers herself in the wake of an looming cancer diagnosis. A coming of age tale for the modern woman, add it to your late summer reading list!
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